OCSC Mike Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 10 hours ago, asquared17 said: i’m stuck wondering if the gator po’boy was real gator and then i decided i didn’t want to dwell upon it Not to beat a dead gator... but yes, it's real. In my limited experience, fried gator tastes kinda like chicken fingers. WAAAYTOOO, asquared17 and Sweety 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 Breakfast was a repeat of yesterday's hotel fare. Back to the room to finish getting ready and pack up. We're in the Uber to the port now and just completed the safety briefing. Bloody Marys here we come! 🛳🏖 FireFishII, DDaley, Ampurp85 and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 2 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: Not to beat a dead gator... but yes, it's real. In my limited experience, fried gator tastes kinda like chicken fingers. Yes, just chewier. DS wanted to try it, but didn't want to commit to an entire meal of it. I have had it before so I offered him some of mine. He said the flavor was good, but didn't care for the texture. FireFishII, OCSC Mike, Ampurp85 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 Y'all this driver! We've almost been in 3 wrecks and we're just minutes from leaving the hotel! FireFishII, OCSC Mike, asquared17 and 5 others 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 We're almost there. Ampurp85, PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 We are in the terminal, checked in, and waiting to board. They said they hope to start letting everyone on at 10:30 so just a short 20 minute wait. The suite concierge was in the terminal and greeted us. Rooms are ready for us to drop our stuff off. MaryS, Lovetocruise2002, FireFishII and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO, Ampurp85 and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 WOOHOO !!!! So excited for you. I love, love, love boarding day. I also hate, hate, hate boarding day. A gator in the ocean ? What's this world coming to ??? Ampurp85, PPPJJ-GCVAB and Jax 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 1 hour ago, melmar02 said: Y'all this driver! We've almost been in 3 wrecks and we're just minutes from leaving the hotel! was this, perhaps, @Ampurp85’s driver??? Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002, FireFishII and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said: Not to beat a dead gator... but yes, it's real. In my limited experience, fried gator tastes kinda like chicken fingers. Guess it is similar to rattlesnake then? I had fried rattlesnake while in Arizona…once! As I began to eat it the taste was very similar to chicken nuggets, however the more I ate the less yummy it tasted… which is probably because my mind kept telling me, “you’re eating rattlesnake!” FireFishII, OCSC Mike and asquared17 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 1 minute ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said: Guess it is similar to rattlesnake then? I had fried rattlesnake while in Arizona…once! As I began to eat it the taste was very similar to chicken nuggets, however the more I ate the less yummy it tasted… which is probably because my mind kept telling me, “you’re eating rattlesnake!” I've never had the pleasure but I'll try just about anything once. I guess once you fry something, unless it's got a very strong flavor, it's gonna taste somewhat like chicken. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 Those Florida drivers are a bit cray, cray But also, it is CRUISE DAY!!!!!!........HAPPY HALLOWEEN melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 1 hour ago, melmar02 said: Rooms are ready for us to drop our stuff off. 1 hour ago, melmar02 said: The suite concierge was in the terminal and greeted us. Wow! That is a nice surprise. Both those things. I think this is why people love Jayson. He goes a bit above and beyond compared to other suite concierges. asquared17 and melmar02 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said: Not to beat a dead gator... but yes, it's real. In my limited experience, fried gator tastes kinda like chicken fingers. I love fried gator with hot sauce. asquared17 and OCSC Mike 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 14 minutes ago, Sweety said: I love fried gator with hot sauce. I'm the worst at hijacking blogs with tangents (sorry @melmar02) but someone told me to try Tobasco's Chipotle flavor at ELF and on CocoCay and it made the tacos sooo much better. Not very hot but really nice smoky flavor. Going to buy it for home use now. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 We hit our muster station, dropped our stuff at the room and headed to the WJ. It wasn't crowded at all, probably because rooms were open. After lunch, DS and I went to the flowrider and slides, played a little table tennis, and then registered at AO. @asquared17 I'm channeling you. I'm in new tennis shoes that have a lot of tread. I kept catching the carpet going downstairs with a drink in hand. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002, asquared17 and 9 others 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 31 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: I'm the worst at hijacking blogs with tangents (sorry @melmar02) but someone told me to try Tobasco's Chipotle flavor at ELF and on CocoCay and it made the tacos sooo much better. Not very hot but really nice smoky flavor. Going to buy it for home use now. No worries - I welcome all hot sauce talk. Choulula's chipotle sauce is really good too. OCSC Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 I love the drunk/sick pumpkin, it's so apropos for a ship on Halloween. I think in my experience, the rooms are always ready earlier on Freedom/Voyager class ships. melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 5 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: I love the drunk/sick pumpkin, it's so apropos for a ship on Halloween. LOL. I hadn't even noticed that until you mentioned it. So clever. melmar02 and Ampurp85 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 2 hours ago, melmar02 said: @asquared17 I'm channeling you. I'm in new tennis shoes that have a lot of tread. I kept catching the carpet going downstairs with a drink in hand. omg DONT CHANNEL ME in this regard!!!!! BE. CAREFUL. (also pack arnica in case you DO channel me ) 6 hours ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said: then? I had fried rattlesnake while in Arizona…once! As I began to eat it the taste was very similar to chicken nuggets, however the more I ate the less yummy it tasted… which is probably because my mind kept telling me, “you’re eating rattlesnake!” wait ME TOO!! also in AZ!! it was many many moons ago; i think i had a more adventurous palette when i was younger and also only ate it so i said that i could!! PPPJJ-GCVAB and melmar02 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrinkm Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 10 hours ago, melmar02 said: I forgot to mention. There was a TV I could see over DD's shoulder last night at dinner which had the news on. There was a story about an alligator swimming along the beach. Well of course I had to Google Map where that particular beach was located. Turns out it's less than a mile from where we are staying! Hopefully this doesn't become the trip of animal shenanigans instead of people shenanigans like poor @Ampurp85 experienced! There was a gator spotted at the Flyers game yesterday too! FireFishII, PPPJJ-GCVAB, melmar02 and 5 others 1 4 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrinkm Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 2 hours ago, melmar02 said: @melmar02 The suit is still looking great!! melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 27 minutes ago, jbrinkm said: There was a gator spotted at the Flyers game yesterday too! Where's @ScottD ? jbrinkm and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrinkm Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 38 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: Where's @ScottD ? He probably knows the whole story already - this is a well known emotional support alligator in Philly. Was denied entry to the Phillies, but Flyers let him in! PPPJJ-GCVAB and OCSC Mike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 Just now, jbrinkm said: He probably knows the whole story already - this is a well know emotional support alligator in Philly. Was denied entry to the Phillies, but Flyers let him in! I saw the Philies story down here but not the Flyers part. Awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 DS and I did the water slides, played a round of table tennis and stopped by AO to get him registered. Then we headed back to the room to clean up about 2pm. We found our luggage along the way. We showered and everyone unpacked. We all left the cabin just before sail away to get DD's waiver taken care of for tomorrow's flowrider lesson. We were told that there were only 2 signed up for the lesson (our kids) but instead of canceling due to not meeting the minimum number of people, they would still let us do the lesson for 30 minutes. I asked how long it would be if I also signed up. We'll have a 45 minute family lesson unless someone else signed up tonight. In total we paid just under $200 for the three of us, not bad considering the private session is $345. Then it was time for sail away! From there we headed to the suite lounge for drinks and snackies. After a couple drinks, we went back to the room for the kids to change for Halloween while DH and I enjoyed the balcony. Lovetocruise2002, asquared17, Ampurp85 and 8 others 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 Costumes on (axolotl and pea shooter from Plants VS Zombies) we headed down to the Promenade for photos. It was decorated with several Halloween inflatables, creepy decor, and set for a balloon drop. Next up was dinner. We had 7:15 reservations for MTD and showed up about 15 minutes early. We were taken right to a table while the no reservations line stretched to the stairs in the art gallery. Crab cakes and tomato soup appetizers. DS had the NY strip, DD ordered the fried chicken, DH the grilled chicken, and I had the stuffed portobello. Key lime pie, cheesecake, and Boston cream pie for dessert, but I didn't get pictures of that course. The kids ean off to the kids/ teen club and DH and I are relaxing in the room. We're turning clocks back an hour tonight so we get an extra hour of sleep before our 8am lesson. The lesson means no Chops breakfast, but we'll get the kids something from the suite lounge before the WJ after the lesson. DH and I don't usually eat breakfast at home, so we will skip tomorrow like usual. Robert M, Jax, CruzOnBye and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 11 hours ago, jbrinkm said: He probably knows the whole story already - this is a well known emotional support alligator in Philly. Was denied entry to the Phillies, but Flyers let him in! 11 hours ago, OCSC Mike said: I saw the Philies story down here but not the Flyers part. Awesome. Wally the emotional support gator! Bryce Harper was also at this Flyers game, but the gator definitely got more press, lol. OCSC Mike and MaryS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 We got a call from AO just before 10pm. DS wanted to go to the balloon drop on the Promenade with a friend he made. I messaged DD, who did not want to go, on the way down to meet DS. It was madness, but I managed to find him. They had RC dancers on the bridge across the Promenade dancing to Thriller just before the balloons came down. As soon as the balloons hit the floor it sounded like the 4th of July with everyone stomping on the balloons to pop them. JohnK6404, PPPJJ-GCVAB, Skigoofy and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 8 minutes ago, melmar02 said: We got a call from AO just before 10pm. DS wanted to go to the balloon drop on the Promenade with a friend he made. I messaged DD, who did not want to go, on the way down to meet DS. It was madness, but I managed to find him. They had RC dancers on the bridge across the Promenade dancing to Thriller just before the balloons came down. As soon as the balloons hit the floor it sounded like the 4th of July with everyone stomping on the balloons to pop them. My son LOVES the balloon drop...and likes the stomping of the balloons even more, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrinkm Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 3 hours ago, melmar02 said: We got a call from AO just before 10pm. DS wanted to go to the balloon drop on the Promenade with a friend he made. I messaged DD, who did not want to go, on the way down to meet DS. It was madness, but I managed to find him. @melmar02 Was the balloon drop at 10pm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 1 hour ago, jbrinkm said: @melmar02 Was the balloon drop at 10pm? It was. Thank goodness he didn't was to go at one that started at midnight! I think it was earlier because of Halloween and more kids could be included. ScottD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 We got up early and went to the suite lounge so the kids could have something light before our flowrider lesson. Ran back to the room and changed before heading out on deck. We were there right at 8am just in case anyone else signed up giving us the full hour. It was still just the three of us though, and we got about 10 minutes of dry land instructions from one Flowrider crew member while waiting on the second instructor to arrive. She showed right at 8:15 and we had 45 minutes of in water lesson with both staff. One was on the flowrider with us and the other coaching from the side. I definitely learned some things that didn't quite sink in before and feel it was worth the money since this an activity the kids want to continue both on ships and at home. After the Flowrider we changed into dry clothes and went to the WJ for real breakfast. It was crazy, and we were all agreed Chops breakfast would be the way to go tomorrow. It just didn't work out today because of the timing of our lesson. All our lesson pics are on DH'S phone, so here is the suite lounge and new Crown Lounge sign. It's the same old Diamond lounge on the inside with no restricted access to us lowly D members this sailing. Lovetocruise2002, FireFishII, asquared17 and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 We're rocking pretty good right now, and the weather is supposed to get rainy and rockies this afternoon. We are sailing across a cold front that will bring rain and up to 35 Knot winds from the side. FireFishII, asquared17, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 Pics of the cabin 9708 Entry with closet door on left, second bedroom on right. 2nd / interior bedroom, beds were not split upon arrival, but cabin attendant took care of it while we were out yesterday afternoon. Bath inside 2nd bedroom living room master bedroom and bath Balcony WAAAYTOOO, Ampurp85, Sweety and 9 others 9 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 augh i LOVE this cabin!!! the best of all worlds AND an aft. bless. melmar02 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 Just now, asquared17 said: augh i LOVE this cabin!!! the best of all worlds AND an aft. bless. Us too. We're going to see if connecting cabins will work for us in the future, and I am really going to miss this one. FireFishII and asquared17 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 Only DS was hungry after our late breakfast. So he had Sorrento's and the kids went back to AO / teen club. DH and I are reading and taking our time getting ready for formal night. If I have my hair and makeup done by the time the kids get back, I can make sure they are ready and just put on my dress right as we are ready to go. Here are a few on our flowrider lesson pictures. DD was smooth enough that they let her drop the rope on her last run. CruzOnBye, MaryS, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 7 others 7 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 I really like your swimsuit; I like to be covered up pretty well and I think something like that would work for me. WAAAYTOOO and melmar02 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 4 hours ago, melmar02 said: We're rocking pretty good right now, and the weather is supposed to get rainy and rockies this afternoon. We are sailing across a cold front that will bring rain and up to 35 Knot winds from the side. How’s your weather holding up? Hope the seas have already settled down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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